Dallas Sends Defending Champs Home Early
POSTED: 1:27 am EDT April 21,
2008
Dallas, TX -- (Sports Network) - Stephane Robidas registered a goal and an assist, as the Dallas Stars advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with a 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of their quarterfinal series at the American Airlines Center.Mike Modano posted a goal and an assist, while Jere Lehtinen collected two assists for the fifth-seeded Stars, who advanced to the second round for the first time since 2003. Marty Turco stopped 17-of-18 shots to pick up the victory. "Just to win the series is an amazing feeling," Robidas said. "We've struggled in the playoffs the last few years and the veterans on this team have been through a lot. We wanted this and it feels great to get it done." Corey Perry scored the lone goal for the fourth-seeded Ducks, who failed in their bid to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Jean-Sebastien Giguere allowed three goals on 25 shots in defeat. "Anything short of the Stanley Cup is a disappointment for this group," Giguere said. "Our goal is set on going all the way. I don't think it was a lack of effort. We tried but we just couldn't come up with the win." The Ducks opened the scoring at the 2:11 mark of the second period, as Perry's quick snap shot from the right circle slid between the pads of Turco. Anaheim carried the advantage into the third period, where the Stars erupted for two goals in a 52 second span to pull ahead, 2-1. Dallas drew even with a power-play goal at the 1:18 mark. A blast from the point by Modano sailed wide of the net and ricocheted off the end boards right to the stick of Robidas, who buried the puck in the back of the net. Stu Barnes lit the lamp 52 seconds later to give Dallas the lead. Robidas carried the puck down the right side and whipped it into the slot for Barnes, whose one-timer beat Giguere on the stick side. Loui Eriksson made it 3-1 with 2:18 remaining in the third. Off a turnover in the neutral zone, Brad Richards chipped the puck ahead to Eriksson, sending the Swede on a breakaway and he beat Giguere on the glove side. Modano added an empty-net tally in the dying seconds to seal the win. Game Notes Anaheim and Dallas met in the semifinals in the 2003 playoffs, with the Ducks winning the series in six games...Dallas finished 2-for-5 on the power play, while Anaheim went 0-for-3.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.





